NUM is disturbed at the level of journalism displayed by Business Political Editor Natatsha Marrian in her News Analysis titled, "Trade union politics at the crossroads".

NUM is disturbed at the level of journalism displayed by Business Political Editor Natatsha Marrian in her News Analysis titled, "Trade union politics at the crossroads".

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is disturbed at the level of journalism displayed by Natasha Marrian in her news analysis titled, “Trade union politics at the crossroads” in the Business Day of 2 May 2018. This is not the Natasha we have come to know in the past. The speculation about the forthcoming NUM congress has been printed without even affording either the President or the General Secretary of the union, who are mentioned in the article, the right to give their side of the story or at least their opinions about the matter at hand.

The NUM views the article as intended to deliberately cause conflict among the members of the NUM. We expect journalists, as they are workers themselves, to report factually about worker issues and refrain from journalism which is sensational and only serve to further divide the workers. The two National Office Bearers mentioned in the article are available to speak to any journalist about the NUM and the commitment to COSATU instead of one journalist speculating about what they would say about their own organization.

In her subjective news analysis, Natasha wrote that the NUM is likely to leave Cosatu after the June congress and join Saftu. That is a lie. There is no way that the NUM will leave Cosatu and join Saftu. The owners of the NUM who are its members in mining, energy, and construction have never given anyone a mandate to leave Cosatu. The truth of the matter is that the NUM will never leave Cosatu. Natasha and her sources must stop lying about the NUM. It is very disturbing and appalling that the Business Day editor would publish a news analysis that is full of lies.

The NUM reassure journalists that it is still committed to working harmoniously with media. The media must find time to talk to us and stop lying.